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Members pass new diversity resolution

Mary Kate Malone | Tuesday, April 26, 2005

The Campus Life Council passed a resolution to continue discussion regarding diversity and offered suggestions for next year’s Council at its final meeting of the 2004-2005 school year Monday afternoon.

Former student body president Adam Istvan also updated the Council on the progression of the security task force – a committee seeking to establish a stronger communication between the South Bend Police Department and students. Ideally, the SBPD would e-mail students to alert them of crimes taking place off campus.

“We spoke with [Director of Security] Phil Johnson, and he has everything ready to go,” Istvan said. “We’ve got South Bend Police Department on board, map files, graphics and the database for [an e-mail list].”

Istvan told members the plan would be best implemented when the next school year begins in the fall.

“If we started it now, it would get lost in the shuffle. Next year I think it will carry more weight,” he said.

Security task force chair Alex French updated members on plans that are underway for fire safety lessons to be given to students on a dorm-by-dorm basis.

“The Notre Dame fire department plans to show a fire safety video in all the residence halls next semester and give a brief 15 minute presentation about what to do in case of an emergency,” French said.

Cavanaugh senator Jordan Bongiovanni presented a resolution to the Council aimed at enhancing communication between Senate committees working on diversity and the CLC’s social concerns task force. Diversity has been a topic of discussion throughout the year, and this resolution is meant to keep CLC involved in the process, Bongiovanni said.

“This resolution calls for the Senate Minority Affairs Committee to report to CLC at our meetings and tell us what’s going on,” she said. “We can ask questions, voice concerns, offer comments and pass along any information that we have.”

Istvan praised the resolution as a reliable way to maintain lines of communication.

“This is a perfect way to continue the diversity project and keep CLC involved with a group that meets weekly to work on it,” Istvan said.

The resolution passed with unanimous approval.

Finally, student body president Dave Baron asked members for suggestions on how improve CLC next year, when he will be leading the meetings.

Brother Jerome Meyer said the issue of campus vandalism should be addressed at next year’s meetings.

“I’d like to talk about vandalism on campus,” Meyer said.

Judicial Council president James Leito noted that outdoor improvement at various campus locations was needed.

“There are no trashcans by Stepan and no drinking fountains by the bookstore basketball courts,” Leito said. “It’s just little things that people don’t always recognize.”

Bongiovanni questioned the makeup of the Leprechaun selection committee. She suggested the Council seek the inclusion of a student on the committee for next year’s selection.

Members also asked about the feasibility of having Vice President for Student Affairs Father Mark Poorman attend a CLC meeting next year. Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs David Moss reassured members they had nothing to worry about.

“I think Father Poorman would be more than willing to come to a meeting next year,” Moss said.